This vehicle may have been advertised at the higher price for less than 28 days, but for a minimum of 10 days.

Standard specification

Driver Convenience

AMG instrument cluster

Attention assist

Bluetooth system

Chequered flag design instrument cluster

Cruise control

Outside temperature gauge

Remote boot release

Service indicator (ASSYST)

Speed limiter

Trip computer

Entertainment

DAB Digital radio

Pre-wiring for Becker Map Pilot

USB interface

Exterior Features

2 Electric windows

AMG bodystyling

Automatic headlamp activation

Body colour bumpers

Chrome exhaust tailpipes

Dark headlamp surround

Door sill plates with "Mercedes-Benz" lettering

Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors

Electro hydraulic vario roof

Green tinted glass

LED daytime running lights

Interior Features

3 spoke sports leather steering wheel

Active head restraints

AMG floormats

Auto Mercedes-Benz child seat recognition sensor

Front centre armrest

Leather gear knob

Lockable glovebox

Multi function steering wheel

Red top-stitching on steering wheel, door armrest and gearshift

Sports pedals

Sports seats

Steering wheel gearshift paddles

Safety

ABS with Brake Assist

Active bonnet

Brake callipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering + perforated brake discs

Brake pad warning light

Driver/front passenger head+thorax airbag

Dual stage Driver/Passenger Airbags

Electronic parking brake

ESP with Acceleration skid control (ASR)

Pre-Safe anticipatory safety system

Roll over protection

Seatbelt pretensioners

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Warning triangle and first aid kit

Security

Alarm system/interior protection/immobiliser

Locking wheel bolts

Technical

Diesel particulate filter

Wheels

18" AMG 5 spoke alloy wheels

Tyre sealant kit

The vehicle information above was correct at time of manufacture. Please speak to the dealership for full current specification.

Technical specification

Emissions

CO

0.268

CO2 (g/km)

114

HC+NOx

0.073

Noise Level dB(A)

70

NOx

0.055

Particles

0.0001

Standard Euro Emissions

EURO 6

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft

DOHC

Catalytic Convertor

True

CC

2143

Compression Ratio

16.2:1

Cylinder Layout

IN-LINE

Cylinders

4

Cylinders - Bore (mm)

83

Cylinders - Stroke (mm)

99

Engine Layout

NORTH SOUTH

Fuel Delivery

COMMON RAIL

Gears

9 SPEED

Number of Valves

16

Transmission

SEMI-AUTO

Fuel Consumption

EC Combined (mpg)

70.6

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies

True

EC Extra Urban (mpg)

72.4

EC Urban (mpg)

54.3

General

Badge Engine CC

2.0

Badge Power

204

Coin Description

d

Coin Series

AMG Sport

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07

45A

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years

30

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years

3

Service Interval Frequency - Months

12

Service Interval Mileage

15500

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage

999999

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years

3

Vehicle Homologation Class

M1

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs)

6.6

Engine Power - BHP

204

Engine Power - KW

150

Engine Power - PS

True

Engine Power - RPM

3800

Engine Torque - LBS.FT

369

Engine Torque - MKG

51

Engine Torque - NM

500

Engine Torque - RPM

1600

Top Speed

152

Tyres

Alloys?

True

Tyre Size Front

225/40 R18

Tyre Size Rear

245/35 R18

Tyre Size Spare

TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Style

5 SPOKE

Wheel Type

18" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height

1301

Length

4134

Wheelbase

2430

Width

1810

Width (including mirrors)

2006

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres)

60

Gross Vehicle Weight

1905

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up)

335

Max. Loading Weight

300

Minimum Kerbweight

1605

No. of Seats

2

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb

10.52

The vehicle information above was correct at time of manufacture. Please speak to the dealership for full current specification.

Independent review

Review courtesy of Car and Driving

Mercedes-Benz SLK

BY JONATHAN CROUCH

Introduction

The third generation Mercedes SLK is an everyday-usable sports roadster that, like its arch-rival BMW's Z4, has a neat folding metal roof. Slick detailing, some incredible technology, low running costs and distinctive styling are all part of its appeal. Does this post-2011-era model make sense as a used buy? Let's find out.

History

The SLK was Mercedes' compact roadster model and sold between 1996 and 2015. Here, we're looking at the MK3 model version, but before we get to deeply into it, time for a re-cap. 'K' in Mercedes model language effectively stands for 'lite', essentially they say, a smaller, more compact but equally desirable version of the same thing. And sure enough, the SLK concept has always been based around delivering a more affordable, more accessible version of the brand's SL luxury convertible to the wider sportscar market.
At launch in first generation form back 1996, this car did just that, complete with an innovation of its own, a 'Vario' metal folding top that was quickly copied across the industry. Classed as a sportscar, it didn't drive like one. Instead, people bought it because they liked the badge and the clever roof. Which was fine until other premium brands got around to offering much the same thing with a more engaging roadgoing experience. Forced to up its game, the second generation SLK in 2004 was a big dynamic step forward, a trend the German brand claimed had continued with this third generation version, launched in mid-2011.
This car had quite a job on its hands, tasked with changing a whole buying demographic. SLKs up to his point had traditionally been bought mainly by undemanding, style-conscious older female buyers who wanted and could afford something nicer than metal folding roof cabrio versions of family hatchbacks like Peugeot's 308 or Renault's Megane. Keeping these customers while simultaneously appealing to the mostly male-orientated market that would usually opt for a sharper handling rival like an Audi TT Roadster, a BMW Z4 or a Porsche Boxster was never going to be easy. But Mercedes has never been a brand to shirk a challenge.
With this car, they aimed to keep the fashionistas loyal with an opulent, more spacious cabin and the option of a 'Magic Sky Control' roof that enabled drivers to switch from light to dark at the touch of a button as they cruised along the Kings Road. Enthusiasts meanwhile would, t was hoped, appreciate classic looks borrowed from the iconic 190SL of the Fifties, powerful engines and a clever optional Dynamic Handling Package provided to get the best from them. This SLK range sold until it was replaced by the SLC line-up in early 2016.

What You Get

Different, but somehow still the same is the aesthetic story with this third generation SLK. At launch, designer Michael Plessing rather candidly admitted that the previous version 'wasn't really a classic Mercedes'. Personally, we thought it rather neat, which if true was just as well for many of its long bonnet, short boot roadster proportions were retained by this MK3 model, despite the fact that this third generation version was over 30mm longer and wider, as well as being slightly taller. From the side, where chrome-finned ventilation grilles in the front wings are reminiscent of famous Mercedes-Benz roadsters of the Fifties, you might think this car to be little more than a facelift of its predecessor but from the front, the differences are obvious, clearly defined headlamps and an upright radiator grille creating a look that chimes with the car considered by many Merc enthusiasts as being the 'original' SLK - the legendary 190SL from the 1950s.
Styling preferences must always be slightly compromised in metal folding roof convertibles by the need to have somewhere to store all those weighty panels, but the SLK has less of an issue here than is the case with most of its contemporaries. Not that there are that many direct rivals from this era. Collapsible tin-tops have fallen from fashion in recent years, but with this car, Mercedes never considered reverting to the kind of fabric roof favoured by rivals like Audi's TT Roadster or Porsche's Boxster. Instead, they sought to make the folding metal roof trendy again by taking the 'metal' bit from the equation and giving customers the option to order their cars with a dark-tinted panoramic glass top. Or even go a step further and specify that glass panel with, wait for it, 'Magic Sky Control'. Ridiculous name, brilliant concept. Here, the glass roof panel pulses with electro-chromatic technology from the Maybach luxury limousine which at the push of a button, changes its molecular alignment to make the cabin either light or dark. If we were being cynical, we might suggest that you could achieve the same effect by installing a simple blind - but that wouldn't be as fun would it?
And after all, a car like this is all about how it makes you feel. Which is what we like most about the SLK. Yes, we're irritated that you can't operate the electrically folding Vario roof at speeds of over 2mph. But in every other way, this is a brilliantly thought-out cabrio. The roof opens or closes in just 20s and can be programmed to work from the keyfob so you don't need to disturb your cappuccino if you're sitting over the road from your car and the heavens open. More importantly for us, it has something that few other convertibles at any price can offer: decent roof-down cabin heating. Not only through the SLS-style 'jet turbine'-look air vents but also through the optional Airscarf neck-level heating system which sees warm air channelled up to the fascia vents and distributed liberally around your ears for feel-good freezing motoring.
Behind the multi-function flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, it feels a suitably premium place to be, everything around you feeling as if it's been built to last and the centre console and other trim parts gleaming with brushed aluminium. More traditional optional touches include an analogue clock and original buyers got the alternative of a wood finish. If you've come to this car from an older generation SLK, you'll immediately notice the extra shoulder room which makes the cabin feel significantly more spacious. There are no rear seats of course and precious little boot room either with the roof down - though to be fair, 225-litres isn't bad for this class of car. Both this figure and the 335-litre capacity you get when the roof is up significantly better those returned by this car's closest folding metal-topped roadster rival, BMW's Z4.

What You Pay

Prices start at around £13,000 for this generation SLK model - that's for a petrol SLK 200 from 2011 with average mileage; for a car like that, you could pay up to around £15,500 for a later 2013 car, for example. If you fancy the idea of the slightly pokier petrol SLK 250, you're looking at having to find around £14,500 for a 2011-era example, with the asking price rising to around £17,500 for a later 2014 model. If a diesel SLK 250 CDI is more what you had in mind, you're looking at around £16,500 for a 2012 model, with the figure rising to around £24,000 for one of the last 2015-era examples. Finally, if you can afford to stretch to the top SLK AMG 55, you're looking at around £26,000 for a 2012 example, with the figure rising to around £32,500 for a later 2014-era car.

What to Look For

Most buyers we surveyed seem to like their MK3 model SLKs. Where we did come across issues, it tended to be with the roof mechanism. The roof/boot space divider (which needs to be locked to lower the roof) can be very insecure and some customers reckon that the latches do not seat in the catch very well. For a few owners, this has caused the roof to jam both when open and closed. This then requires the bootlid to be manually opened prior to a physical wrestling with the divider in order to lock it into place so that the sensors can then allow the roof to work. In other words, fully test the mechanism several times before committing to purchase. If you encounter problems and the buyer responds with something along the lines of "They all do that sir....", then we'd suggest you walk away.
To be fair, the roof mechanism fitted to this MK3 variant is a lot more robust than that used on previous generation SLKs - and not much else goes wrong. Many will be tempted to give manual cars a wide berth but the good news is that the manual gearbox fitted to this MK3 SLK is a very good unit - a rarity for a Merc. This perception means that there's a relatively big premium for the automatic versions and keen drivers will be able to source competitively priced manuals if they're on the ball. The quality of the interiors is also a good deal better than it was on MK1 or MK2 SLKs. Check alloys for signs of kerbing and make sure the service stamps are up to date and that the alarm and immobiliser are functioning properly. Bear in mind too that the paintwork is very prone to stone chips.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on an SLK200 inc VAT) Brake pads are between £15-£32 for cheap brands or up to around £50 if you want an expensive make. Brake discs cost around £150 and brake callipers are around £235. A drive belt is around £25. Air filters are around £25. Oil filters cost around £10. A water pump is around £35 to £40. Spark plugs sit in the £11 to £16 bracket and you'll pay around £17 for a wiper blade. A timing chain would be about £40 and a cylinder head gasket about £25.

On the Road

A BMW Z4 or a Porsche Boxster is a direct, engaging driver's car, whether you want it to be or not. Having a wider customer base on its books, this SLK must be a little different and given Mercedes' need to satisfy that wider palette of interests, we think they did rather well with this MK3 model. Interior styling cues from the SLS AMG supercar get you in the right mood from the off and the engines on offer seem to have enough about them to promise reasonably brisk progress.
The whole SLK concept of 'less being more' was clearly demonstrated in the previous generation version of this car. That was a model you could bond with most closely not in rip-snorting AMG flagship form, but in simple four cylinder entry-level guise matched to a manual gearbox. You won't find many SLKs fitted with a manual gearbox - hardly any UK buyers wanted it - which seems a little curious given that we are talking about a sports roadster here. Still, the seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus auto transmission does undoubtedly suit this car very well with its silky-smooth ratio changes and steering wheel-mounted paddles. Just as well really as unless you choose the entry-level SLK 200, it's the only option.
That variant has one of the two 1.8-litre four cylinder direct injection turbocharged petrol engines available in the range, units well familiar from the C-Class saloon that here offer 184bhp in SLK 200 form and a marginal increase to 204bhp if you go for an SLK 250. In both cases, you can expect pretty similar levels of performance, with rest to sixty achievable in around 7s on the way to a top speed of around 150mph, though to be fair, the difference between these two models is greater on the road than it looks on paper, thanks to the SLK 250 variant's greater low-down pulling power and rortier engine note. You'll have to sacrifice a little on the engine note front if you want the other four cylinder SLK alternative, the 204bhp 2.15-litre 250CDI diesel, but compensation comes with impressive frugality matched to performance near-identical to that of the four cylinder petrol models.
And if you're buying this car as a style-conscious statement, then that's about all you need to know when it comes to the Driving Experience. But for the more enthusiast-orientated audience that Mercedes hoped to attract with this third generation model, it'll be just the start. These people will want to find themselves an SLK fitted with uprated suspension: possibly the stiffer sports suspension option but ideally the Dynamic Handling package. Here, continuously adjustable damping automatically sets the car up to suit the surface you're on and the mood you're in. Enthusiasts will also want an SLK in which this system has been matched to a sharper Direct-Steer steering set-up, replacing the vagueness of the standard system. And Torque Vectoring brakes that add minute braking forces to the inside rear wheels through a corner to help the car turn in more sharply.
The result of all this cleverness isn't quite enough to turn this car into a Porsche Boxster but it's enough to get it surprising close. Especially if you opt for arguably our favourite model in this third generation line-up, the V6 3.5-litre petrol SLK 350. Seriously fast with 306bhp, it dispatches sixty from rest in just 5.6s and has to be artificially restrained at 155mph. So it's just a second slower than the SLK 55 AMG flagship model that's far thirstier but compensates with a glorious barrage of aural entertainment from its 422bhp 5.5-litre V8.
In summary? Well, you still wouldn't buy an SLK for trackday heroics. And you probably wouldn't buy one if all you wanted was a spot of backroad weekend fun. But as an everyday-usable roadster, it's very complete package indeed, leading the class from its era in ride quality, refinement and comfort. On paper, those don't sound like attributes that should be sportscar priorities, but in practice, they matter very much. Roof-down on a typical cold British day cruising fluidly along the bumpiest back road, we love the way the cabin cossets you from buffeting with its clever pivoting Airguide draught-stop that attaches to the anti-roll bars. And the way it warms you with its powerful heater and Airscarf neck vents. It's all enough to make you want to use a car like this that little bit more. Other rivals might be sharper. But they don't encourage you to go fast and al fresco quite as regularly. Which for us, is the SLK's real charm.

Overall

Back in 1996, the Mercedes SLK re-invented the coupe-cabriolet concept for the modern age. In this third generation guise, it continued to do just that. According to SLK wisdom, a roadster needn't be uncomfortable to drive in town or on long trips. It need cost no more than a family hatchback to run. It can make you feel at one with the elements even when the roof's up. And when you can go al fresco, the coldest day can feel as warm as it would be were the top to be closed. These are all attributes that rivals struggle to match, even if some of them might be cheaper or sharper to drive.
Here then is a car from a brand that perfectly understands its target audience. A car that in MK3 model form, became more finely attuned to its market than ever before. A car offering a level of engine efficiency and technology that makes many rivals from its era seem from a prior generation. If you believed that the two-seat roadster was becoming a selfish and irresponsible indulgence, Mercedes clearly thinks it can persuade you otherwise.

Performance

70%

Handling

50%

Comfort

70%

Space

50%

Styling

70%

Build

80%

Value

50%

Equipment

60%

Economy

50%

Depreciation

80%

Insurance

50%

Finance this car

The finance shown is available on this car, or you can tailor it to suit your requirements using the calculator.

Deposit (£)

Term

Representative finance example

Monthly payment

£434.80

Deposit

£5399

Term (months)

60

Cash price

£26,995

Credit amount

£21,596

Completion fee

£1

Total amount payable

£31,488

Fixed interest rate

4.1%

APR representative

Fixed 7.9% APR representative

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Pay an initial deposit, then pay off the entire value of the car in monthly instalments

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Arnold Clark Automobiles Limited and Harry Fairbairn Limited act as credit brokers sourcing credit to assist with your purchase from a carefully selected Panel of Lenders (to view click here). Lenders may pay us a fee for these introductions. A guarantor may be required. All offers and credit subject to status, terms and conditions. Applicants must be 18 years or over.

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So if you were to look at our current dealership Star Ratings they would be based on feedback from 49,339 customers who bought their vehicle between 1st June to 30th September 2016, providing an average score across our dealerships of 95.3% and a Star Rating of 4.8 out of 5. A group of customers this size gives you an accurate and credible picture of customer service at Arnold Clark, delivered by the people best placed to evaluate it.